Have you ever been five miles into the wilderness and wondered who fixes that nice trail that carried you in? It could be you!
Washington Trails Association, the state's most active hiker advocacy group, organizes Backcountry Response Teams (BCRTs) to maintain trails miles into the wilderness. By bringing volunteers out to maintain trails for three to four days, spending these nights in the woods, these teams can fix routine trail problems before they turn into maintenance quagmires that can ruin a backpacker's trip.
The Lower Big Quilcene trail is one of the most popular routes leading into the interior of the Olympic Mountains. It is the beginning of a trail system that can take you all the way to the coast. It is a heavily used trail and in need of maintenance, as hikers, mountain bikers, and horseman will be heading up this valley soon.
The Perimeter Loop and Old Griz trails need some general maintenance (drainage, brushing) as well as some tread rehabilitation. We'll meet at the parking area and carpool together up to the worksite.
Northwest WA near Bellingham. WTA will spend this winter improving lowland trails in the area, including several trails within Larrabee State Park. The work will focus on general maintenance including improving drainage in places where the tread is muddy, as well as possible trail realignment.
The Forest Service spared this area from logging and now it needs substantial maintenance to get it back in good shape for hikers. We'll continue work to clear the trail of blowdown as well as work to repair the tread and a complete a re-route. There is a lot to be done to restore this wonderful forest hike.
Olympic National Park. This trail was built on an old railroad grade and follows the north shore of Lake Crescent. It needs some annual maintenance, which might include clearing debris from the trail and improving drainage.
Washington Trails Association is holding a Hiker Morning Mixer in Yakima to kick off the hiking season. Join WTA staff and local hikers for breakfast and trail talk. Whether you are looking for a new hiking partner or hoping to get some feedback on the list of hikes you’re planning, this event will have something for everyone. The mixer is a great chance to get together with other trail lovers and celebrate the coming of Spring.
Washington Trails Association will be the beneficiary of the weekly benefit comedy show at Comedy Underground, which features local comics poking fun at...well, nearly everything. A portion of the evenings ticket sales will benefit WTA. So come on out and have a laugh with your fellow hikers.
Like all good comedy, the material takes risks and may offend those with a less-developed sense of humor. But if you're up for a fun night out and want to support the work WTA does for trails, join us on Tuesday night, March 24th, at the Comedy Underground in Seattle's Pioneer Square.
